Since ancient times humans have been affected with Tuberculosis. During the 18th and 19th centuries, it was referred by the name of “Consumption” and had severely affected Europe and North America. During those years and up to the early 20th century, it was the main cause of death.

However, advancements in technology, health care and improving standards of hygiene have almost eradicated the disease from the Western World. However, it still continues to be a deadly disease in countries that are less developed, have poor hygiene standards and high density of population. Nevertheless, efforts are being made to eradicate the disease once and for all and today, it is much less prevalent than what it was years ago.

As per a World Bank data, in 2000, there were 172 incidences of tuberculosis per 100,000 people across the world. But by 2015, this figure had decreased to 142 per 100,000 people. The Sub-Saharan African region, according to the 2015 data, was the worst affected by the disease where the incidence of tuberculosis per 100,000 people stood at 276. But this was a climbdown from the 344 figure that was reported in 2000.

Among the African countries, the highest incidence of the disease had been reported in South Africa, which is incidentally also the highest in the world. In 2000, the nation reported 585 incidences of tuberculosis per 100,000 people. But what is disturbing is the fact that by 2015, this figure had increased to 834. Lesotho occupied the second place with 788 incidences reported in 2015. However, in 2000 it had a whopping 992 cases. Swaziland and Mozambique are the two other nations that had more than 500 incidences per 100,000 people. In both the countries, the figures stood at 565 and 551 respectively.

Among regions, South Asia held the second place reporting 220 incidences of tuberculosis per 100,000 people. Among the South Asian nations, Pakistan had the highest incidences of tuberculosis at 100,000 with the number standing at 270. Bangladesh and India reported figures of 225 and 217 respectively. Maldives had the lowest figure with 53 incidences of tuberculosis per 100,000 people.

In Europe, tuberculosis was at one time the most dreaded disease, but has been contained over the years. Still Greenland and Moldova had reported high incidence of the disease at 164 and 152 respectively. On the other hand, a majority of the nations had reported figures of 10 and less. The two nations of North America the United States and Canada – had even done better with just 3 and 5 incidences of tuberculosis per 100,000 people. In Australia and New Zealand, the figure stood at 6 and 7 respectively.